The court ruled in 2020 that a surrogacy law, which had expanded access to single women but excluded gay couples, “disproportionately harmed the right to equality and the right to parenthood” and was unlawful. It gave the government a year to draw up a new law, but parliament failed to meet the deadline. The state had argued that the law was intended to protect surrogate mothers but the court ruled that it would be possible to strike a balance that would not discriminate. Gays serve openly in Israel’s military and parliament, and many popular artists and entertainers, as well as the country’s current health minister, are openly gay. __IMAGE: FILE – In this June 25, 2021 file photo, people participate in the annual Pride Parade, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
